Scott Brown to Visit Iowa for Second Time

Former Sen. Scott Brown is headed to Iowa for a second time to serve as the keynote speaker for the Scott County Republican Party’s Ronald Reagan fundraising dinner in November.

Last month's visit by the Massachusetts Republican to the Iowa State Fair triggered talk of a presidential bid in 2016. During that trip, he said he was "curious" about the possibility of running, The Hill reports.

Stops in Iowa carry significance because it is the nation's first caucus or primary state.

In discussing his November visit with the Quad-City (Iowa/Illinois) Times, Brown deflected questions about running for president. He said he's concentrating on helping a Republican win election to the Senate in Iowa next year. Democrat Tom Harkin is retiring when his term ends in 2014.

In the interview, Brown, a moderate, emphasized that the GOP should strive to be the party of inclusiveness.

"We are a party of big ideas, allowing people with differing ideas to have their point of view, be heard, and be respectful about it," he said.

"[There's] no need to demonize or vilify or all be in the same mold, this ideologically pure mold," he added.